January 2024 Meeting

 Thank you to Lynn B, who took notes and forwarded them to me for the meeting follow up.

Meeting was called to order by President Joan T.   There were 9 members present and 2 guests for a total of 11 at the meeting.

Joan discussed the new enrollment process EGA launched January 1, 2024.  Joan, Caryl and Robin participated in a zoom meeting with the Regional Director, Donna P where a lot of questions were asked and answered.  All registrations for renewing members and new, will now be done online at the EGA.org website.  Most members will renew in May and will receive an email from EGA that it is time for their renewal.  We expect more information to follow.  There will no longer be proration.  New members will enroll through the website and their membership will run for one year from the date they enroll.

Joan read the motion from the Executive Committee/Anniversary Committee that was first presented at the December Meeting.  The Resolution was to have the ability to spend funds not to exceed $2,000.00 on the Lamplighters’ Anniversary celebration.  A complete accounting of expenditures will be provided at a later date.  The treasurer has previously reported that our account is healthy enough for this use.  The motion for approval was made by Katie Chrysler, seconded by Jan Sanders.  All members present voted to approve the motion to spend not more than $2,000.00 on 50th Anniversary Celebration and Dinner to be held in April 2024.

Contract Completion
Those who completed the projects they pledged in January 2023 to complete by January 2024 had their names entered into a drawing.  Jan Sanders was picked as the winner of a $25.00 gift card to 123stitch.com. Congratulations!  2024 Project Completion Contracts were available at the meeting to fill out.  Please talk to Pat Lerch at the February meeting for information and a form.

2023 Lamplighter’s Challenge
We took part in the EGA Rhodes Rage Challenge.   Each month a Rhodes stitch was stitched in a dffierent way.   A snowflake for January, a heart for February, a Shamrock for March, etc.  Members brought in their Rhode Rage projects which showed the Rhodes stitch done in different ways.

2024 Lamplighters’ President’s Challenge
This is our Golden Anniversary Challenge.  Members were challenged to create and make your own Golden Name tag.  If you wish to participate, the name tags need to be completed for January 2025.  If you participate, your name will be put in for a drawing in January 2025.  Project directions with a piece of gold thread were distributed.  Name tags can be worn at the April celebration if completed early.

Woodlawn Needlework Show at the Woodlawn Planation, Alexandria, VA, will again be in March.  There were no projects brought to the meeting to be sent for display. Contact Pat Y before January 22nd to make arrangements with her to take pieces to Woodlawn.

Show N Tell -
Projects brought in by Jan, Beth, Marian, Linda, and Katie were shared.

A variation on a Christmas in July project by Katie C.

Thimble Box from Noteworthy Needle by Beth Dietz 

Santa by Linda W.

Cauliflower by Marian S.

Plum Street cat by Beth Dietz

Needlepoint and felting witch by Beth Dietz

Large tablecloth shared by Jan S.

Upcoming Programs -

February - Linda introduced Kathy Fischera at tonight’s meeting who will be our guest next month to demonstrate rug hooking.

March - will be the petite project Blackwork bookmark.  There is an option to pay $4 for a piece of linen.  Sign up for the project and select if you need to buy linen.

Christmas in July -
Linda is still in need of volunteer teachers for the event.  Contact Linda if you are interested in teaching.  There are copy-write rules that need to be followed for patterns used.  Linda has a good supply of project possibilities.

Lightning Rounds -
In the most recent Needle Arts magazine section after page 24, there is a section on called Inside EGA that there are “lightning rounds” which are group classes offered to members at large to sign up for if you are interested.

Tonight’s Meeting Program - “Cotton Threads”
Linda researched and created a great presentation on the wide variety of cotton threads and the brands that offer these options.  She had a variety of threads on display to explore.

Thank you again to Lynn B for taking notes while I was at Camp WannaStitch in Ocean City, Maryland.

Next meeting February 8, doors open at 6:45; meeting starts at 7 pm

December 2023 Meeting

 December Meeting - We have a lovely holiday get together.    

We had a great number of Show ‘n Tell items which have been added to our Facebook page.   

Quadrille from Christmas in July by Christine F.  On the right, the Feather Tree from a 2022 meeting, by Deb N.

Top, the Candy Cane Biscournu by Christine F.  Bottom, “Woolamina” from Plum Street by Caryl C.

Two gorgeous ornaments by Linda W.  She used old costume jewelry as the centerpieces in each.   Clever girl!

Designers Across America round ornament by Joan T.

Plum Street tart by Gwynne G.

Summertime Screen door by Deb N.  Designs for each season from a company called “A-Door-Ables”

Winter Quaker, Rosewood Manor, Gwynne G.

Joy by Joan T.

Noel, by Joan T.

Year long project from ANG, 56 individual leaves, stitched and finished into a lovely wreath, Linda W.

Gather ‘Round, from Hands on Designs, stitched by Joan T.

Patriotic design from The Primitive Hare, stitched by Gwynne G.

GH 1857 Sampler, stitched by Pat L.

Christmas bell pull, Baseball “Home” and perforated paper ornament by Deb N.

“Pink Spring” designed by Pat Morse, stitched by Marian S.

Below, “Summer” designed by Pat Morse, stitched by Marian S.   The last two in the series.

Autumn at Hawk Run Hollow, stitched on 40 count linen over 1 by Pat. L.

“Garden of Stitches’ from Samplers Not Forgotten, stitched by Robin T.

“Red Bird” sampler from With Thy Needle and Thread, stitched by Robin T.

* For any completed 2023 Contracts, members are to send Pat L. a photo of your piece.  Pat L. explained how the “2024 Contracts” will work.   Members make a pledge to themselves to work on and complete a certain project in 2024.   Contact Pat with any questions and for the 2024 form.  

* We discussed the email received from National the first week of December.  (I will find a copy and forward it to all.).  This email is a guide to EGA course offerings.  It is a hand reference to print and save. GCC’s, Lightning Rounds, Virtual Course, Individual Correspondence Course’s are all explained. 

* A Resolution was presented for review.   The Resolution authorizes the Board to spend, not more than, $2,000 on our upcoming 50th Anniversary Event in April 2024.  The Resolution will be again presented in January for any further discussion and final vote.

* All were invited to join members for lunch the first Friday on January and then proceed to the Woodstown Library to take down the holiday tree.

* The Mid-Atlantic Spring Meeting will be in King of Prussia, April 5 and 6, 2024.

* Following our brief business meeting, we shared a covered dish of holiday sweets and treats.   

Program - Caryl Carthew led us in making floss tags.  Members brought in old Christmas and Greeting cards.  Caryl provided instructions and the punches necessary to make floss tags.   The weight of the cards proved to be a good weight for the floss tags.   These could also be used as great gift tags provided you didn’t punch the hole for hanging the floss into the tag!

We also play two rounds of L-R-C (Left-Right-Center).   Everyone brought 6 (unused) skeins of floss to the meeting.   We divided into 3 groups of 6 to 8 each.   Each group had their own set of dice and played among themselves.   Using 3 skeins per round, each group was able to play 2 rounds and there were two winners-take-all for each group.    There were lots of OHs! And AHs! and everyone seemed to enjoy it.